Kolton Crawford sinks a 10-foot putt on the par-3 16th hole, which broke a tie with Hayden Frederick and gave him the lead.

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While the final margin of victory for Kolton Crawford was four shots, the Mansfield senior didn't take command of the FWJGA Boys City Junior Golf Championship on a hot, sunny Thursday until the 16th hole at Colonial Country Club when he sank a 10-foot birdie putt to break a deadlock with Hayden Frederick. The birdie pushed Crawford into a two-shot lead after Frederick failed to get up and down from behind the green. Until then, Frederick, 15, of Mansfield had steadily began nudging closer to Crawford, whom he had trailed by four shots entering the final round of the 72-hole tournament. Crawford entered the day one behind Luke Neeley, but Neeley struggled early and finished with an 81.

Crawford's birdie on 16 and a par-saving putt on 17 after he and Frederick had hit the front right-hand sand trap proved to be the clinchers. On 17, both blasted short of the hole, but Crawford made his 12-15-footer while Frederick's putt slipped past the hole for another bogey.

Crawford finished with a 4-over-par 74 at the storied layout and posted a 291 total over the 72 holes. His scores were 75 at Meadowbrook G.C., 71 at River Crest and Shady Oaks. Frederick, 15, also of Mansfield, finished with a bogey on the 18th to match Crawford's 74 and give him a 295 total. Neeley, 15, of Joshua struggled on the front nine in his first trip around Colonial and fell out of contention with a 43. He rallied somewhat on the back for a 39 and his 81 gave him a 297 total and third place.

Zach Lew, 18, of Mineral Wells posted the day's best score of 69 and tied Andre Garcia (76) for fourth at 298.

``It took a little more work this year,'' Crawford said of his victory.

Crawford said it felt good to win again because it was his last year to play in the tournament as he'll be 19 next year and ineligible. ``It feels good to go out with a bang,'' he said.

Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief presented the championship trophy to Crawford and gave an inspirational talk to the large gathering of participants, parents and friends. Also on hand was Marty Leonard, whose father Marvin, founder of Colonial and Shady Oaks country clubs, helped begin the free boys tournament in 1936. Thanks to the donation of courses from the City of Fort Worth and the city's country clubs, the tournament has remained free ever since, making it the largest of its kind anywhere.

Neeley was making his first tour of Colonial and struggled early. ``I just did not get off to a good start at all today,'' he said. ``Seven over through sox (holes) and turned at 7 over, and on the back I couldn't get anything going. But I finished strong. I made a 40-footer for birdie on 18, so that was nice.''

He said he just couldn't get a putt to find the hole before that. `` It seems like six or eight putts just hung on the lip.'' But he was happy with his showing. ``My first three rounds were solid, but I just struggled today.''

Frederick said he figured he'd have to shoot a low score to catch and beat Crawford ``because he doesn't make any mistakes.''

However, after Crawford's three consecutive bogeys on the back, Frederick found himself tied for the lead with the defending champ. ``We were tied for awhile, but he birdied 16 and that really changed things,'' Frederick said.

Frederick, not as familiar with Colonial as Crawford, who has played the course several times, over-clubbed on the 180-yard par-3 16th and his 6-iron went long and left of the green. Crawford elected to hit an 8-iron and his ball finished about hole high and 10 feet away from the back, right pin location. ``That hole was playing a little short and we it was a little downwind,'' Crawford said.

Frederick's pitch failed to break right as he had expected and his ball finished about five feet from the hole. Crawford ran in his putt, but Frederick failed to sink his touchy downhiller.

On the 17th, Frederick and Crawford hit their second shots in the front, right hand green-side trap and only Crawford was able to get up-and-down, thanks to his par-saving putt.

Frederick believed he had a chance to win the tournament when he teed off, because ``I felt like I was playing good. But I figured I would have to shoot a low number because he (Crawford) doesn't many any mistakes.'' Except for the double-bogey on the par-4 nine that has water guarding the front of the green, Crawford had few mistakes. Crawford had hit his tee shot to the right and then tried to cut a 7-iron to the green, but found the water instead.

After Crawford gained the lead on 17, though, he played conservatively on 18, hitting a 3-wood and then sand wedge to the green. Crawford became the first repeat winner since Austin Berkovsky accomplished the feat in 2005-06.

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